Bonds & Levies

What is the difference between a bond and levy?

Bonds are for Buildings. Levies are for Learning.

School bonds provide immediate funds for large, long-term capital projects, such as modernization of buildings, new school construction or purchasing property. Bond funds are generally collected over a 15 to 30 year period, and are comparable to your home mortgage.

Levies bridge the gap between state and federal funding and the actual cost of operating a school district. Levies support basic educational programs and services. Levies greatly contribute to our annual operating budget and support student learning, health and safety, athletics, activities, instructional support, technology, transportation, operations, and maintenance.

Levies are locally approved taxes that pay for staff, programs, and day-to-day operation of schools that the State of Washington does not fund with basic education dollars. A Maintenance and Operations Levy replaces a current tax levy. It is a continuation tax, not a new tax.